Collecting vinyl can be an absurdly expensive hobby. Between your turntable, speakers, preamplifyer, and record storage, costs can add up quick. And that’s all before you even buy a record.
One of the biggest investments for a vinyl newbie is the turntable. The best turntables of 2023 can quickly add up to over $1000. If you don’t have that much to spend, don’t worry. You can start listening to records at almost any budget.
I’ll be honest with you, a record player for under 100 dollars isn’t going to be a fantastic machine. But there are some that work surprisingly well. After testing over 30 record players, here are our choices for the top 10 best record players for under 100 dollars in 2023.
Preview: Our Choice for the Best Record Player Under 100 Dollars in 2023
Preview: Here's All Our Choices for the Best Record Player Under 100 Dollars in 2023
- #1: Best Overall | Audio-Technica ATLP60
- #2: Best With Built-In Speakers | Popsky Vintage Turntable
- #3: Best With Bluetooth | Victrola Modern 3-Speed
- #4: Best Portable | Crosley Cruiser Deluxe
- #5: Victrola Modern Acrylic
- #6: Crosley T100
- #7: Jensen JTA-230
- #8: Pyle PLTTB3U
- #9: Jensen JTA-460
- #10: Audio-Technica AT-LP60X
Some Quick Background
Why are Record Players so Expensive?
Collecting vinyl is an expensive hobby, and record players can often cost upwards of 1000 dollars. There are a few reasons why record players are so expensive.
Record players have a lot of small moving parts which are precision-designed to provide great quality. Like watches, there is a fine art to designing and manufacturing record players.
Another reason record players are so expensive is that collecting vinyl is a very niche hobby. It’s often described as “hipster” to collect vinyl in 2019. Because of a small customer base, manufacturers need to charge more to make a profit.
Lastly, there is a huge variation in record player quality. The more expensive record players tend to have much higher sound quality and precision.
Can You Really Find a Good Record Player Under 100 Dollars in 2019?
Yes, provided you are lenient with your definition of “good.” You aren’t going to be able to set up a Hi-Fi system. That’s just something you’ll need to accept.
For the best record player under 100 dollars in 2019, you’ll be able to get something that allows you to listen to your vinyl collection at an acceptible quality. The options on this list are entry-points to a hobby that will hopefully grow and give you satisfaction for years to come.
What You Need to Look For
When you are looking for the best record player under 100 dollars in 2019, you are looking for three main things.
Sound Quality
You aren’t going to get amazing professional playback quality for this price. That’s a fact. What you need to look for is a record player that has good enough quality for the type of records you are playing. Hopefully you aren’t into Hip-Hop, because bass is usually lacking.
Speaker Options
The ideal record player for under 100 dollars will have speakers built-in, with an option to connect external speakers. However, not having built-in speakers is not a deal breaker. Ultimately, you want the option to connect to better speakers down the line.
Design Quality
Let’s be real. If you are looking for the best record player for under 100 dollars in 2019, you are looking for something that looks good. I’d bet most people reading this are looking for something to show off to their friends. Next to sound quality, design is what most people care about at this price point.
Here's Our Picks for the Top 10 Best Record Players Under 100 Dollars for 2023
Overall Best Record Player Under 100 Dollars in 2023
The Good
- Fully Automatic Operation
- Protective Dust Cover
- Lightweight and Compact
The Bad
- Cheap Plastic Constuction
- Tricky Bluetooth Pairing
- No Built-In Speaker
The Bottom Line
Audio-Technica is a reputable brand known for making quality products at an affordable price. While this record player doesn’t include speakers, that provides an opportunity for a beginner to dive into the hi-fi space at a low price. The Audio Technica ATLP60 is the best record player for under 100 dollars in 2019, and the best record player for beginners available right now.
Best Record Player with Built in Speakers for Under 100 Dollars in 2023
The Good
- Built In Speakers
- Padded Feet
- Stylish Vintage Design
The Bad
- Mediocre Sound
- Speaker Interferance
- Cheaply Built
The Bottom Line
The Popsky Vintage Turntable may not have the highest sound quality, but it is a good model of record player with built-in speakers. For users who want a cheap, simple way to jump into collecting vinyl, the Popsky Vintage Turntable is a fine place to start.
Best Bluetooth Record Player for Under 100 Dollars in 2023
The Good
- Three Speed Settings
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- Speakers Included
The Bad
- No Dust Cover
- Platter Wobbles
- White Finish Gets Dirty
The Bottom Line
The Victorola Modern 3-Speed Bluetooth Turntable is sleek and stylish, and includes bookshelf speakers. While the white gets dingy over time, this is a great turntable for beginners that offers easy upgrades in the future.
Best Portable Record Player in 2023
The Good
- Simple Vintage Design
- Multiple Color Options
- Reputable Brand
The Bad
- Mediocre Sound Quality
- Only Bluetooth Input
- All Plastic Construction
The Bottom Line
The Crosley Cruiser Deluxe is one of the cutest portable record players on the market. The sound quality leaves something to be desired, but this is the perfect record player for a teenager’s holiday or birthday gift.
Other Great Record Players Under 100 Dollars in 2023
The Good
- Wireless Speakers Included
- Bluetooth Compatible
- Stylish Acrylic Body
The Bad
- No Dust Cover
- Connection Delay
- Poor Bass Quality
The Bottom Line
The Victrola Modern Acrylic 2-Speed turntable is a stlylish turntable with wireless speakers that is great for a low-end system. It looks great with most decor and has true wireless speakers included.
The Good
- Speakers Included
- Bluetooth Compatible
- Pitch Control and RCA Out
The Bad
- No Dust Cover
- No Speaker Grills
- No 78 RPM Playback
The Bottom Line
While most record players offer three playback speeds, 33 1/3, 45, and 78 rpms, this isn’t a big issue for most customers. The majority of vinyl records today are pressed for 33 1/3 rpm playback. With speakers included and better sound quality than most turntables on this list, the Crosley T100 is one of the best record players under 100 dollars in 2019.
The Good
- 80's Style Design
- Vinyl to MP3 Recording
- Built-in Dust Cover
The Bad
- Cheap Speakers
- Heavy Stylus
- Not Very Durable
The Bottom Line
The Jensen JTA-230 isn’t a record player that will last for the rest of your life. Like a lot of record players on this list, it is a good entry point for new vinyl collectors. It is a good setup to get all the playback equipment you need in one shot.
The Good
- Great Brand
- USB Audio Recording
- Adjustable Playback Speeds
The Bad
- Wobbly Platter
- Plastic Construction
- Needs Tweaking for Playback Performance
The Bottom Line
This record player is probably the most eye-catching of all the entries on this list. You’ll need a pair of good speakers to go with it, but this is a great way to start building a pseudo HI-FI system.
The Good
- Built-In Dust Cover
- Digital Display
- AM/FM Stereo Included
The Bad
- Light-Weight Stylus Bounces and Skips
- Poor Quality Built-In Speakers
- Auto-Stop Doesn't Work Properly
The Bottom Line
The Jensen JTA-460 is a great representation of record players from the 80s and 90s; including both good and bad aspects. If you choose this record player, just disable auto-stop and hook up some better speekers using the output jacks.
The Good
- Anti-Static Mat
- Built-In Dust Cover
- Cleaning Kit Included
The Bad
- Ugly Design
- Cheaply Built
- Needs Preamp for Better Sound
The Bottom Line
The AT-LP60X from Audio Technica isn’t a bad record player by any means. However, given the choice, you’re probably better off going with the Audio-Technica ATLP60.
